Support for air filter units and the like



May 3, 1960 H. v. FIRST SUPPORT FOR AIR FILTER UNITS AND THE LIKE FiledJuly 18; 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

HARRY V. FIRST C ATTORNEY May 3, 1960 H. v. FIRST 2,935,157

SUPPORT FOR AIR FILTER UNITS AND THE LIKE Filed July 18, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HARRY V. FIRST ATTORNEY SUPPQRT FOR AIR FILTER UNITS AND THE LIKE HarryV. First, Moline, IlL, assignor to The George Evans Corporation, Moline,Iil., a corporation of Illinois Application July 18, 1958, Serial No.749,382

8 Claims. (Cl. 183-49) The present invention relates generally to airfilters and more particularly to that class of filters used to filterair for ventilating purposes, and is in the nature of an improvement inthe filter disclosed in Patent No. 2,792,906 granted May 21, 1957, toReid Evans.

The filter shown in that patent comprises an assembly. of rectangularsupporting frames into which the filter units frame and sealing element,which is less expensive,

simpler to manufacture and easier to assemble and install. These andother objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art after a consideration of the following description inwhich reference is had to the drawings appended thereto, in which-Figure l is a front elevational view of an air filter comprisingmultiple filter units, embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlargedsectional view taken along a line 2-2 in Figure1, portions of which are broken away to conserve space.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of one of the supporting frames.

- Figure 4 is an elevational front View of one of the sealing elements,and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the sealing element takenalong a line 55 in Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings the supporting frame of the air filter isindicated in its entirety by reference numeral and comprises an assemblyof frame sections 11, 12, 13, 14, etc. rigidly secured together to forma rigid framework.

Each of the frame sections is an outer peripheral supporting frameformed of sheet metal, such as aluminum, comprising top and bottomportions 17, 18 and two side portions 19, 20. Each of the portions 17-,18, 19, 20 is generally L-shaped in cross section with a main webportion 21, an inwardly projecting flange portions 22 along the rearedge thereof and an inwardly offset front edge portion 23 defining anoutwardly facing concave recess 24.

The front edge portion 23 is curved to produce a recess that increasesin depth rearwardly from the front edge and then converges rearwardlywith the outer plane of the web portion 21.

The peripheral frame sections assemble together with the flat outersurfaces of the web sections 21 fitting tightly together in juxtaposedassembled relation and are rigidly secured together into a unitary frameby bolts 26 extending through aligned holes 27 in the juxtaposed webportions 21 and nuts 28 threaded on the bolts. The outer surfaces of theoutside members of the supporting frame lie in juxtaposed relation tothe wall surface 29 which defines the wall opening in which the airfilter is installed. In this assembled relation, the opposed recesses 24in atent O 2,935,157 Patented May 3, 1960' the front edge portions ofadjacent frame members define a forwardly opening groove between thefront edge portions 23, which is narrower at the front of the groovethan it is at the center of the groove, as best illustrated in Figure 2.

Each frame section is provided with a peripherally extending rectangularrubberlike sealing element, indicated generally by reference numeral 35,which comprises a middle supporting portion 36, U-shaped in crosssection straddling the front edge 23 of the frame with an outer flange37 formed with a bead 38 lying in the outwardly facing recess 24,filling the latter. The outer surface of the flange 37 lies flush orcoplanar with the outer surface of the web portion 21 of the frame.Hence the outer surfaces of the flanges 37 on adjacent frame units liein juxtaposition and cooperate to secure both flanges against withdrawalfrom the recesses 24 when in assembled relation.

The inner flange 40 of the rubberlike element 35 embraces the innercurved side of the offset edge portion 23 of the frame and is formedwith an enlarged resilient compressible head 41 within the frame behindthe front edge portion 23. Preferably, the head portion has a hollowcenter 42 which facilitates compressing the head. The bead 41, which canbe manufactured by extrusion in a process known to those skilled in theart, defines a rectangular opening smaller than'the inside of the framesection'ltl.

The filter unit 45 is a conventional rectangular member comprising ametal peripheral frame 46 of channel section with a porous filterelement 47 of conventional laminations of expanded aluminum sheet, amass of steel wool, glass wool or any suitable known material. Eachfilter unit frame 46 has a pair of laterally spaced handles 48, by whichthe unit can be lifted and pressed into the opening defined by the innerhead 41. The filter unit frame 46 is slightly larger in dimensions thanthe compressible bead 41, but smaller than the supporting frame 10, sothat pressing the frame 46 into the opening defined by the head 41compressing the latter between the frames 46, 10 and the filter unit ispushed rearwardly into contact with the inwardly turned flange portion22 of the supporting frame 10, the flange 22 thus serving as an abutmentwhich stops the filter unit from being pushed through the frame 10. Thefilter unit is thus entirely supported by its contacts with thecompressible bead 41 and the rear abutment 22.

Conversely, the filter unit can be removed from the frame by graspingthe two handles 48 and sliding it out of the opening defined by theinner compressible bead portion 41. The rubberlike element 35 isretained in the frame 10 by the beads 38 clamped between the recesses 24of the front edges of the frames.

It will be evident from Figure 2 that the outer flange of the rubberlikeelement in the outer frame section lies flush against the side of theWall 29, which cooperates with the recess 24 to clamp the bead 37 inplace and also seal against air leakage.

t will now be evident to those skilled in the art that the filterconstruction disclosed herein is simple and inexpensive to manufacture,but efllcient in operation. The frame sections are formed of sheet metalin a simple angular shape and the resilient sealing member is a simpleextruded form that is installed by slipping it over the front edge 23,but is securely retained within the recesses when the frames areassembled and bolted together. After assembly the sealing elementssupport the filter units in place without any additional bolts, latchesor other retainers and prevent air leakage between the filters and theframes or between the adjacent frames and also prevent leakage betweenthe outer frames and the Wall.

I do not intend my invention to be limited to the particular detailsshown and described herein except as set forth in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. In an air filter, the combination of an outer peripheral supportingframe having an inwardly projecting rear abutment portion and a frontedge portion having an outwardly facing peripherally extending recess, aperipherally extending rubber-like element comprising a supportingportion generally U-shaped in cross-section straddling said front edgeportion of said frame with an outer flange lying in said outwardlyfacing recess and substantially flush with the outer surface of saidframe, the inner flange of said U-shaped portion being formed with anenlarged resilient compressible bead within said frame behind said frontedge portion and defining an opening, and a filter unit having an outerperipheral surface slightly larger than said opening and slidablyinsertable into the latter into engagement with said rear abutmentportion of theframe, said resil ient bead serving both as a peripheralseal between said unit and said frame and as the sole support of saidunit on said frame.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, further characterized in thatsaid recess increases in depth toward the rear and said outer flange ofsaid rubberlike element is formed with a bead filling said recess andserving to secure the outer flange against Withdrawal when said flushouter surface of said frame is positioned against a flat surface.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, further characterized in thatsaid peripheral supporting frame is in the form of a sheet metalstructural member generally L-shaped in cross-section, the front edgeportion being offset inwardly to define said outwardly facing recess andthe rear leg of the L-shaped member is turned inwardly to form theabutment.

4. In an air filter, the combination of a plurality of rectangularfilter units and a plurality of outer peripheral supporting frames forsaid units adapted to fit tightly together in juxtaposed assembledrelation, means securing said frames to each other in assembledposition, each of said frames having a front edge portion offsetinwardlyfrom the juxtaposed outer surfaces to provide an outer peripheral recessin opposed relation to the corresponding outer recess in adjacentframes, a peripherally extending rubberlike element for each framecomprising a supporting portion generally U-shaped in cross-sectionstraddling said front edge portion with an outer flange lying in saidoutwardly facing recess and substantially flush with the outer surfaceof the frame and in face-to-face contact with the outer flange portionof the outer flanges of the corresponding elements on the adjacentframes, the inner flange of said U-shaped portion being formed with anenlarged resilient compressible bead within said frame behind said frontedge portion and defining an opening, said filter unit having an outerperipheral surface slightly larger than said opening and slidablyinsertable into the latter.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, further characterized in thatsaid recesses increase in depth toward the rear and said outer flangesof said rubber-like elements are formed with beads filling said recessesand cooperable with the corresponding juxtaposed flange to secure bothflanges against withdrawal when in assembled relation.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5, further characterized in thatsaid supporting frames are in the form of sheet metal structuralmembers, the front edge portions being turned inwardly and flaringoutwardly toward the front edge, thereby defining a forwardly openinggroove between the front edges of adjacent frames which retain the outerflanges of two adjacent rubberlike elements.

7. In an air filter, the combination of an outer peripheral supportingframe having an inwardly projecting rear abutment portion and a frontedge portion having an outwardly facing peripherally extending recess, aperipherally extending rubberlike element comprising a supportingportion straddling said front edge portion of said frame with an outerflange lying in said outwardly facing recess and substantially flushwith the outer surface of said frame and an enlarged resilientcompressible bead formed on the opposite side of said frame and definingan opening, and a filter unit'having an outer peripheral surfaceslightly larger than said opening and slidably insertable into thelatter into engagement with said rear abutment portion of the frame,said resilient bead serving both as a peripheral seal between said unitand said frame and as the sole support of said unit on said frame.

8. In an air filter, the combination of a plurality of rectangularfilter units and a plurality of outer peripheral supporting frames forsaid units adapted to fit tightly together in juxtaposed assembledrelation, means securing said frames to each other in assembledposition, each of said frames having a front edge portion offsetinwardly from the juxtaposed outer surfaces to provide an outerperipheral recess in opposed relation to the corresponding outerrecesses in adjacent frames, a peripherally extending rubberlike elementfor each frame comprising a supporting portion straddling said frontedge portion with an outer flange lying in said outwardly facing recessand substantially flush with theouter surface of the frame and inface-to-face contact with the outer flange portion of the outer flangesof the corresponding elements on the adjacent frames, and an enlargedresilient compressible bead formed on the opposite side of said elementinside the periphery of said frame and defining an opening, said filterunit having an outer peripheral surface slightly larger than saidopening and slidably insertable into the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,158,717 Brock May 16, 1939 2,582,219 Ardito et al. Jan. 15, 19522,792,906 Evans May 21, 1957 2,793,405 Focht May 28, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,065,980 France Jan. 13, 1954 523,897 Canada Apr. 17, 1956797,100 Great Britain June 25, 1958

